Outward peace and mutual alliances, marked by unfaithfulness
and forgetfulness of God

The last chapter presents another element of this history,
namely, the guilty alliances which were formed between the royal
families of Israel and Judah. Both of them prosperous at this
period, they seek the establishment and increase of their power by
peace and mutual alliances. On Jehoshaphat's side it was nothing
but unfaithfulness and forgetfulness of God. And, if God did not
forsake him, Jehoshaphat saw the commencement of chastisements,
the results of which were deeply disastrous to his house.

The false prophets and the prophet of Jehovah

We see also the false prophets in power: Ahab had four hundred
of them. We may remark also, that they made use of Jehovah's name,
and no longer, as it appears, of Baal's [1]. Nor was Elijah, as we
see, the only prophet of Jehovah. The intermixture
continues. Outwardly the state of things is less offensive; but
the heart of Ahab is unchanged. At the request of Jehoshaphat,
who is uneasy in this false position, Ahab sends for the prophet
of Jehovah; but he does not hearken to him and has to meet the
consequences. We learn also here in what manner a lying spirit
deceives and leads the wicked to ruin, fulfilling the purposes and
judgments of Jehovah. Elisha and Elijah During all this time
Elisha constantly accompanies Elijah and, led to this intimacy by
grace, he is morally imbued with his spirit before he is clothed
with it in power. He seems identified with him.